Recovery Shots To Recover From Your Game

Golf is not a game of perfection - and has never been one.

What does that mean?

That means we can play golf for a lifetime and never play a round in which every shot turns out just as we expected. In other words, golf is a game extremely difficult to master. So, the moral lesson is: not to aim at mastery, but to go for recovery from difficult situations. Recovery shots hold the key to golfing success.

In golf, it is extremely important for you to make up for a poor shot. You may be given a "second chance", so to speak. A recovery shot is your "second chance" to put your golf ball back in position to play the hole. A good recovery shot not only gives you confidence, which is often critical when things are not going your way, but also frustrates and even unnerves your playing competitors.

Recovery shots are not just for the pro; they are for every golfer who knows how to execute the recovery shot in a given situation, however difficult it may be.

For example, if your golf ball happens to have landed in a grove of trees, a recovery shot may help you get out of the predicament.

1. Do not attempt a full swing: for one thing, you may not be able to execute a full swing if you are surrounded by trees and branches; for another, a full swing may drive your golf ball too high in the air, resulting in the ball being caught among branches.

2. Look for a "window" through which you could drive your golf ball back to the fairway.

3. Determine how far you would want your golf ball to travel through the window. Usually, a 5, 6, or 7 iron may do the job.

4. Gain better control of your golf club by bringing your hands down on the grip closer to the shaft of the golf club.

It is important that you remain calm and composed when you find yourself in a difficult situation. A recovery shot may just do that.

For more golf tips and information, visit my web page: Your Golfing Success.


Stephen Lau

Golfing Success Info Center